Who are Mzuzu FMB champions?
Northern Region Youth Football Committee (NRYFC) and Mzuzu District Youth Football Committee (MYFC) have differed on the identity of Mzuzu FMB Under-20 League champions.
NRYFC have declared Sanwecka FC champions but their district counterparts have opted for Katoto United.
The two bodies have differed following what happened on Sunday during the two teams’ separate final matches.
Going into Sunday’s matches, Sanwecka and Katoto were tied at 54 points. However, Sanwecka had a superior goal-aggregate of plus nine going into the game against Mzuzu Police FC.
Sanwecka won the game 3-1 but, to their disbelief, Katoto overcame Mzilawaingwe 14-0 on the same day.
This prompted Sanwecka owner Winnie Mbarley to ask NYFC to investigate the result, saying winning by such a margin was questionable.
“Mzilawaingwe FC have never [since the league started] conceded more than six goals [in one game]. I am not saying [that] it cannot happen. [I know] this is football, [and] anything can happen but my worry is [that] we are killing football [which] we all promote.
“Those that watched this game can testify that it was total drama. Most spectators speculated that it was planned,” reads part of Mbarley’s letter.
Katoto Team Manager, Ackim Nyirenda, downplayed the claims, saying his players were motivated to win the game by such a huge margin.
“We could have scored more [goals] if our strikers were sharp enough. So, it was normal to win because the players worked hard to realise their dreams of being champions,” he said.
In a statement, NRYFC General Secretary (GS), Desire Bellings, said they have a final say on youth football matters in the region.
“Earlier in the league, Sanwecka won 10-0 against Lamia FC. But the regional committee decided to give them a 2-0 win because the win was not normal. So, we have treated this fresh case the same way,” he wrote.
But the committee’s GS, Owen Musopole, insisted that Katoto are the champions.
The differences have put uncertainty on the team that will represent the district at the FMB regional finals scheduled for Rumphi on Saturday
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